REPORT 

O  F 


WILLIAM  WESTON,  Esquire 


ON  THE 

PRACTICABILITY  OF  INTRODUCING 


THE 


HJater  of  tfje  %totx  Mxonj: 


INTO  THE 

CITT  OF  NEW-TOR  K> 


CONE  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF   THE  CORPORATION  OF   THE   SAID  CITY 


—No.  102,  in  Pearl  ftreet — 

PRINTED  ST  JOHN  FURMAN. 

M,DCC;XCIX, 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


city  of    ?        ^  a  C°mmon  Council,  held  on  Sa* 
new-york,  rrs*        turday  the  1 6th  day  of  March, 
)  1799,  the  following  REPORT 

of  William  Weston,  Efq.  ( on  the  praclicability 
of  introducing  the  WATER  of  the  River  Bronx,  im 
to  this  city  J  made  at  the  reqiieft  of  this  Boards  was 
read,  and  ordered  to  be  printed,  viz* 

SIR, 

In  compliance  with  the  requeft, 
contained  in  your  letter  of  the  1 8th  of  December 
laft,  I  have  taken  the  earlieft  opportunity,  which 
my  engagements  and  the  ftate  of  the  weather  would 
permit,  to  afcertain  the  praclicability  of  introducing 
the  water  of  the  Bronx  into  the  City  of  New-York. 
The  refult  of  which  inveftigation,  I  have  now  the 
honour  of  tranfmitting  to  you,  requeuing  that  you 
will  lay  the  fame  before  the  Common  Council,  who, 
as  the  immediate  guardians  of  the  city,  mult  feel 
peculiarly  anxious  to  poflefs  fuch  information  on  the 
fubjecl,  as  may  enable  them  to  determine  upon  the 
propriety  of  the  meafures,  necefTary  to  be  taken  to 
accomplifh  that  important  object, 

I  am  fenfible  that  Estimates  of  the  expence  at- 
tendant on  the  execution,  would  have  been  a  defira- 
ble  piece  of  information  ;  but  a  wifh  to  render  them 
as  accurate  as  the  uncertainty  of  the  bufmefs  will 
admit,  induces  me  to  requeft  a  further  indulgence  of 
time,  to  procure  information  on  feveral  material 
points,  ellential  to  be  known,  previous  to  the  com- 
pletion of  the  necelTary  calculations,  but  with  which 
I  am  at  prefent  unacquainted* 


(  4  ) 


Though  the  amount  of  the  expence,  ought,  and 
doubtlefs  will,  have  a  proper  degree  of  influence  on 
the  final  decifion  ;  yet  perhaps  it  is  not  a  difadvan- 
tage  in  the  firft  inftance,  that  rhe  queftion  fhould  be 
determined  on  its  abftracl  merits  alone. 

In  an  object  of  this  nature,  the  fir  ft  point  to  be 
fixed,  is  the  Quantity  of  water,  neccflary  to  be  de- 
livered in  a  given  time  :  was  nothing  more  required 
than  a  fufficiency  for  culinary  and  other  doxneftic 
ufes,  the  matter  might  be  eafily  afcertained.  But 
as  the  principal  object  of  this  undertaking,  is  the  in- 
troduction of  a  copious  and  conftant  fupply,  for 
cleanfing  and  cooling  the  ft reets,  it  becomes  a  quef- 
tion  of  importance  to  determine,  as  near  as  may  be, 
the  annual  amount  of  the  required  demand.  Seve- 
ral fpecific  quantities  have  been  mentioned  ;  but  in 
my  opinion,  they  are  all  inadequate  to  the  contem- 
plated purpofe.  In  this,  as  in  all  other  undertakings, 
I  conceive  it  to  be  an  object  of  the  firft  confequence, 
to  have  the  effeft  dependent  on  the  ^7'//,  and  where, 
from  the  nature  of  the  thing,  no  certain  concluhons 
can  be  obtained,  it  is  wifeft  to  err  on  the  fafe  fide. 

Whatever  doubts  may  be  entertained  of  this 
deduction  as  a  general  principle,  I  believe  there  can 
be  none  rejecting  the  propriety  of  it  in  the  prefent 
inftance  ;  for,  however  great  the  amount  of  the  fur- 
plus  water  may  be,  there  are  a  variety  of  ufeful, 
and  productive  purpoies,  to  which  it  may  beadvan- 
tageoufly  appli.  d.  Proceeding  on  this  ground,  I 
have  erueavoured  to  calculate  as  near  as  the  want  or 
fufficient  data  would  enable  me,  the  Minimum  quan- 
tity, neceflar)  to  be  introduced  in  24  hours.  Tho* 
conclufions  deduced  from  Hydralilic  principles  of 
the  expence  oi:  water  iffujng  from  pipes  of  given  dia- 
meteispi^ed  on  the  m  mm  its  of  the  feveral  ftreets, 
would  have  been  much  preferable  to  vague  guefies  ; 
yet  the  infinite  variety  of  cafes,  arifing  from  different 


C  5  ) 

degrees  of  dcprcjfwn  below,  and  dtftance  from  the 
principal  Refervoir,  would  have  rendered  the  opera- 
tion a  very  laborious  one,  and  from  a  variety  of 
cauies,  the  refult  very  uncertain.    Indeed,  every 
mode,  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  may  be  objected 
to,  on  the  latter  principle,  but  though  it  is  perhaps 
impoffible  to  afcertain  the  exact  truth ,  we  mutt:  en- 
deavor to  approximate  as  near  thereto  as  poflible. — 
Conceiving  it  to  be  the  intentions  of  the  gentlemen, 
w  ho  have  recommended  the  meafure  of  wafting  the 
ilreets,  as  cilential  to  the  health  of  the  citizens,  to 
have  a  regular  and  plentiful  current  of  water  run- 
ning at  leaft  twelve  hours  every  day,  through  all  the 
ilreets,  by  means  of  pipes  placed  at  the  respective 
iummits,  producing  an  effect,  fimilar  to  what  we 
may  obferve  to  be  done,  by  a  moderate  jhower  of 
rain  of  the  fame  duration.    Calculating  therefore, 
the  area  of  the  city  ;  the  quantity  of  water  ufually 
defcending  in  the  time  above  mentioned,  and  making- 
due  allowance  for  fuch  parts  of  the  general  furface, 
as  are  pervious  to  water,  we  (hall  obtain  a  refult,  that 
perhaps  on  the  whole,  will  be  as  near  the  truth  as 
can  be  done  by  any  other  mode,  and  fufficient  to 
anfwer  every  purpofe  required.    1  find  that  the  area 
cf  the  city,  bounded  by  the  Eaft  and  North  rivers, 
and  the  interfectlon  of  them  by  Grand-ftreet,  is  up- 
wards of  750  acres,  and  making  an  allowance  of 
350  for  public  fquares,  gardens,  and  other  unpaved 
furfaces,  we  have  a  remainder  of  400  acres  ;  which 
being  unpenetrable  to  the  rain9  all  that  falls  on  that 
furface,  mufl  be  difcharged  by  means  of  the  Channels 
of  the  different  ftreejs,  into  the  adjacent  rivers.  I 
have  made  various  enquiries,  but  have  not  as  yet  re- 
ceived any  correct  information  of  the  quantity  of 
water  produced  by  a  moderate  mower,  of  i  2  hours 
continuance.    I  am,  therefore,  under  the  neceiiity 
of  afiuming  as  a  fact,  what  may  hereafter  be  proved 
to  be  erroneous,  though  1  have  reaibn  to  believe, 
that  my  calculations  will  net  be  found  to  be  over-rated. 


(  6  ) 

Fixing,  therefore,  the  depth,  as  mown  by  the  rain- 
gage,  at  cne  fourth  of  an  inch,  we  fhail  find  the 
total  amount  to  be  363,000  cubic  feet,  or  2,221,560 
ale  gallons,  and  adding  to  this  778.440  gallons,  as 
an  adequate  fupply  for  domeftic  confumption,  we 
mall  have  Three  Millions  of  gallons  to  be  introduced 
into  the  refer  voir  every  twenty-four  hours. 

I  beg  leave  to  obferve,  that  an  encreafe  or  dimi- 
nution of  the  above  quantity  may  be  effected  by 
one  of  the  plans,  fubmitted  to  your  conn  deration,, 
without  materially  altering  the  dehgn  or  enhancing 
the  eitimates,  while  by  the  other,  the  expence  will  be 
nearly  proportioned  to  the  quantity  required.  I  offer 
the  preceding  calculation,  merely  as  an  effay  to  de- 
termine a  point,  which  as  yet  has  remained  undif- 
cufiTed,  though  of  fuch  importance,  that  I  deem  it 
the  bans  of  the  whole  work.  I  fhail  readily  yield  to 
any  valid  reafons,  that  may  be  produced  in  fupport. 
of  variations  from  the  above  conclulions. 

The  quantity  requifie  being  determined,  the  next 
point  to  be  ascertained,  is  from  what  fources  it  can 
be  moll  conveniently  derived.  I  am  acquainted  with 
bur  two  modes,  that  deferve  any  consideration.  The 
firu  is  the  introduction  of  apart,  or  the  whole  of 
the  waters  of  the  Bronx — The  fecond  is  a  fupply 
obtained  from  the  fprings  of  the  Collect.  As  this 
quefiicn  has  much  a/«  ated  the  public  mind,  and 
each  plan  in  its  turn  been  extolled  or  decried  by  their 
refpective  advocates  and  opponents,  it  has  produced, 
(what  is  frequently  the  effect  or  a  collifion  of  fenti- 
inents)  a  more  obftinafe attachment  ro  pre-conceived 
opinions.  I  do  net,  therefore,  expect  that  any  argu- 
ments which  I  fhail  produce,  will  reconcile  the  jar- 
ring intereds.  Yet  Itruflthat  the  ftatement  1  fhail 
offer,  (and  it  is  the  refult  of  fome  experience  and 
reflection ),  will  enable  thofe  whofe  province  it  is  to 
judge  of  the  merits  and  difad  vantages  of  the  different 


(  7  ) 

plans,  to  felect  that,  which  on  the  whole  fiiall  be  moO: 
conducive  to  the  public  welfare. 

In  order  to  form  a  correct  opinion  on  the  fnbjeci, 
it  is  tieceflary  to  take  into  confederation,  the  efficiency 
of  fupply  ;  the  quality  of  water,  as  it  refpects  the 
different  ufes  to  which  it  is  to  be  applied  ;  and  the 
expence  of  execution. 

On  the  fir  ft  of  thefe  heads,  I  am  aware  that  it  ha3 
generally  been  believed,  and  pretty  confidently 
maintained,  that  at  thofe  feafons,  when  the  demand 
will  be  greateft,  and  molt  effential,  that  the  wa- 
ters of  the  Bronx  are  wholly  inadequate.  Thefe 
affertions  have  been  made  with  a  degree  of  pofitive- 
nefs,  that  would  induce  one  to  believe,  they  were 
founded  on  the  molt  careful  and  accurate  expe- 
riments, which  I  have  every  reafon  to  imagine,  have 
as  yet  never  been  made  ;  inftead  of  which,  I  have  no 
doubt  they  are  the  random  gueffes  of  fuperficial  ob- 
fervation.  The  queition  is  of  fuch  importance,  that 
we  ought  to  be  very  careful,  that  we  proceed  upon 
the  moll  certain  grounds.  In  a  matter  of  this  con- 
fequence,  I  taty  be  allowed  to  be  a  little  diffufe. 

It  is  evident  that  at  the  period,  when  the  gre.iteit 
fupply  of  water  is  wanted,  there  will,  from  natural 
caufes,  be  the  leaft  quantity  furnifhed.  This  is  a 
common  principle,  applicable  to  ail  rivers,  and 
fprings  ;  the  very  few  examples  to  the  contrary,  are 
mere  exceptions  to  the  general  rule.  This  circum- 
flance,  has  created  doubts  in  the  minds  of  many 
perfons  of  the  efficiency  of  the  Bronx.  Previous 
to  my  examination  of  that  ftream,  I  had  regretted 
that  proper  experiments  had  not  been  taatre,  at  the 
feafon  above  alluded  to,  as  then  the  fact  would 
have  been  afcertained  beyond  ail  difpute.  It  is  uni- 
verfally  allowed,  that  for  the  greateft  part  of  the 
year,  there  is  a  fuper-abundant  quantity  •  what  the 


(  8  ) 

diminution  may  be,  is  not  enfily  afcertamed  ;  we 
mud  rely  altogether  upon  the  information  of  rhofc 
perfons,  whom  a  long  reficience  has  afforded  the  beft 
opportunities  of  judging  of  its  ufual  decreafe  ;  but 
as  not  materially  interested  on  the  fubject,  we  cannot 
expect  any  confiderable  degree  of  accuracy  in  their 
obfervations — Allowing  for  this  circumdance,  I  have 
been  careful  to  take  the  lowed  average  of  the  re- 
fults  of  three  diftinfi  cafes,  founded  on  the  beft 
data  I  could  procure,  and  applying  to  them  well 
known  Hydraulic  laws,  I  am  perfuaded  that  the 
natural  dream  of  the  Bronx  alone,  if  conveyed  with- 
out wade,  would  be  fully  adequate  to  the  fupply 
before  mentioned  ;  but  fortunately  a  minute  accuracy 
is  not  required,  as  will  appear  by  the  following  ac- 
count of  the 

River  Bronx, 

Whose  principal  fource  is  from  a  Lake,  about  4 
miles  to  the  Northward  of  the  White  Flams,  known, 
by  the  name  of  Rye  Fond.  This  is  a  beautiful  meet 
of  water,  upwards  of  a  mile. in  length,  containing, 
as  appears  from  an  old  furvey,  upwards  of  500  acres 
of  water  ;  which  flowing  from  the  outlet,  is  receiv- 
ed into  another  pond,  afhort  diflance  below  ;  whofe 
area  exceeds  50  acres.  From  this  pond  it  defcends 
with  a  rr.pid  current  upwards  of  a  mile,  to  Mr.  Ro- 
bert's Mill  ;  a  few  rods  below  "which,  it  unites  with 
the  other  branch  of  the  Bronx.  This  lad,  which 
has  its  origin  in  a  fwamp  a  few  miles  to  the  North- 
ward, retains  the  name  of  the  Bronx,  to  its  fource  ; 
yet  it  is  the  lead  confiderable  dream,  particularly  in 
the  Summer,  when  it  is  reduced  to  a  filial  1  current ; 
while  the  other  branch  is  fufficiently  large,  to  turn 
an  overfliot  wheel,  twelve  hours  out  of  twenty-four, 
in  the  dried  times.  Rye  Pond  is  bounded  by  high 
and  bold  mores,  which  tending  towards  each  other 
at  the  outlet,  are  admirably  calculated  for  the  form- 


\ 

(  9  ) 


fction  of  an  inimenfe  Refervoir.  This  being  filled 
during  the  winter  and  fpring,  may  be  retained  until 
the  month  of  July,  when  the  natural  fupplies  begin 
to  diminifh,  it  may  then  be  difcharged  periodically, 
fo  as  to  afford  any  given  quantity  of  water,  that  may 
be  requifite  for  the  ufe  of  the  city. 

This  Lake  is  fupplied  wholly  by  fprings,  many  of 
which  are  internal,  and  few  of  the  others  originate 
more  than  a  mile  from  the  head  ;  thefe  are  fo  con- 
usant and  copious,  that  no  doubt  can  arife  of  their 
capacity  to  fill  the  Refervoir  to  the  contemplated 
height  of  fix  feet,  which  may  eafily  be  effected  by 
throwing  a  dam  acrofs  the  outlet  of  the  lower  pond  ; 
this  would  form  a  meet  of  water  of  more  than  600 
acres  in  extent,  containing  959,713,920  gallons  of 
water  ;  affording  (^independent  of  the  natural  flream 
of  the  Bronx;  a  diurnal  fupply  of  nearly  Eight 
Millions  of  gallons,  for  120  days  ;  three  eighths  of 
which  quantity  is  fufficient  for  our  purpofe  ;  the  fur- 
plus,  Five  Millions  may  be  given  to  the  Mills  below 
the  point  of  partition  ;  fo  that  inftead  of  injuring 
(and  confequently  recompencing  them  for  the  dam- 
age,) the  Mills  on  the  Bronx  as  has  been  generally 
apprehended,  they  will  derive  effential  benefits  from 
the  meafure.    Having,  I  flatter  myfelf,  removed  the 
doubts  of  the  moft  incredulous,  refpecling  the  effici- 
ency of  the  fupply  to  be  derived  from  the  Bronx, 
it  remains  to  examine  the  competency  of  the  waters 
of  the  Collect.    The  general  bias  of  opinion  feems 
to  lean  in  favour  of  this  fcheme  ;  and  if  it  can  be 
made  fatisfaclorily  to  appear,  that  the  required  fupply 
can  be  obtained  from  this  fource,  I  am  ieady  to  al- 
low that  it  is  a  work,  that  would  be  fooneft  accom- 
plifhed,  and  attended  with  the  lead  expence.  But  we 
ought  to  be  extremely  cautious  in  hazarding  an 
experiment,  where  the  cast  would  be  fo  great,  and 
the  event  fo  doubtful.    The  queftion  is  of  infinite 
importance,  and  unfortunately,  one  that  cannot  be 


(  io  ) 


determined  by  abflracr.  reufomng.  The  capacity  of 
the  Collect,  has  been  attempted  to  be  proved,  by  its 
■prefent  extent,  but  that  in  my  mind  is  a  mod  falla- 
cious mdde  of  reasoning ;  for  however  great  that 
133  ••  he,  a  powerful  Steam  Engine  would  foon  ex- 
hauft  it,  unlefs  replenilhed  with  numerous  and  copious 
Springs  :  on  thefe  alone,  therefore,  it  is  evident  we 
m  tft  depend  ;  and  i  know  of  no  other  mode  of  ef- 
limating  their  combined  erfec:.  than  by  calculating 
the  quantity  6f  Wztqi  nTuing  from  the  outlet  of  the 
Collect  ;  which  even  at  this  timeis  fo  inconfiderable 
as  fcarceto  deferve' attention,  and  if  my  information 
is  correct,  it  ceafes  to  flow  altogether  in  the  fummer. 
I  am  fenfible  that  \\  e  mould  not  too  haiHly  conclude, 
that  the  above  is  the  total  amount  of  the  supply  that 
may  be  derived  from  this  fource ;  I  think  it  very 
probable,  that  from  the  nature  of  the  surrounding 
und,  (which  is  a  coarfeand  porous  gravel;  a  con- 
querable portion,  thereof,  may  percolate  through, 
into  the  adjacent  rivets.  Much,  and  perhaps  the 
greateft  quantity,  is  alfo  daily  drawn  off  by  the  Tea- 
"Water  Pump  ;  which  from  its  vicinity,  I  have  no 
doubt  is  fupplied  from  the  fame  fource. 

It  is  true  that  by  finking  deeper  into  the  earth,  an 
augmentation  of  quantity  would  be  procured,  yet  if 
we  went  lower  than  the  furface  of  the  Tide  Water,  I 
apprehend  that  the  quality  would  be  materially  in- 
jured. Leaving  the  queftion,  as  I  fear  it  will  remain, 
undetermined,  we  next  proceed  to  examine  the 
quality  of  the  refpective  waters.  To  appreciate  their 
merits  fairly,  we  mould  judge  of  their  utility,  by 
the  extent  of  their  application  :  Proceeding  on  this 
ground,  I  believe  it  may  be  fafely  affirmed  that  the 
water  of' the  Bronx,  is  at  leall:  equal  to  that  of  the 
Collect,  though  this  is  contrary  to  the  general  opini- 
on. The  only  reafon  that  I  can  perceive  for  the  pre- 
ference uiually  given  to  the  laft  mentioned,  arifes 
Solely  from  its  fuperior  cooinefs.  However  grateful 


C  n  ) 


this  may  be  to  our  feelings,  it  does  not  follow  that 
It  is  equally  conducive  to  our  health  ;  for  whatever 
degree  of  purity  it  may  now  poffefs,  the  period  is 
not  very  remote,  when  from  the  natural  encreafe  of 
the  city,,  thefe  fprings  mutt  be  fubject  to  thofe  con;- 
taminations,  which  have  already  rendered,  fo  many 
wells  unfit  for  ufe  ;  an  evil  that  is  daily  encreafing, 
and  to  which  no  effectual  remedy  can  be  applied.— 
This  to  me  has  ever  appeared  an  unfurmou arable 
objection,  The  idea  of  fupplying  a  large  city  with 
Pure  Water, .from  a  Refervoir  in  its  center,  has  al- 
ways been  a  very  ftrange  one  to.  me.  .  From  the  re- 
prefentations  made  refpectm^  the  water  of  rhe  Bronx, . 
I  believe  many  perfons  have  haftily  concluded  that 
it  was- unfit  for  ufe.  When  it  is  ccnfidered  [hat  the. 
principal  cities  in  Europe,  are  necelTarily  fupplied. 
from  Rivers,  and  with  water,  generally  taken  from 
thofe  parts,  which  from  a  variety  of  caules,  are  moll 
impure,  and  yet  that  the  experience  of  ages  has  not 
evinced  any  known  ill  effects,  arifmg  from  the  prac- 
tice, I  conceive  that  little  fears  will  be  entertained 
of  the  falubrity  of  the  water  of  the  Bronx- — which 
is  a  collection  of  innumerable  Springs,  ifluing  from1 
a  rocky  and  gravelly ,  counrry,  and  runnh  g  with  a 
rapid  current,  over  a  bed  of  the  fame  materi  \\ It 
will  be  conveyed  into  the  city  without  any  additic  :.l 
impurity,  and  e're  it  is  diftributed  from  the 
voir,  will  by  a  mode  of  purification  hereafter  de- 
fcribed,  be  rendered  as  clear  as  Spring  Water, 

The  next  object  to  be  afcertained,  is  the  praclica- 
bllify  and  probable  expence  of.  accomplilhing  the  re- 
fpeclive  plans  :  And  here  it  may  not  be  ainifs  to  ob- 
ferve,  that  in  a  matter  of  fuch  immenie  conl'equence 
to  the  prefent  and  future  con\enience  and  weirhre  of. 
the  city,  every  local  view,  every  fubordinate  confide- 
ration,  mould  yield  to  the  general  ^eod  ;  that  a  re- 
gard to  the  primary  object  alone,  fhould  decide  the 
queftion,  regard lefs  of  a  paltry  difference  of  expence^ 


( ti ) 


or  the  immediate  emolument  to  be  derived  from  the 
undertaking.  On  the  firft  of  the  above  mentioned 
heads,  there  have  been  a  diverfity  of  opinions,  which, 
previous  to  an  actual  furvey,  was  not  to  be  wondered 
at.  Thefe  doubts  mud  now  be  removed,  as  it  ap- 
pears from  the  examination  that  has  been  recently 
made,  that  the  Bronx  is  fufficiently  elevated  above 
ihe  higheft  parts  of  the  city,  to  introduce  its  waters 
therein,  without  the  aid  of  machinery  ;  and  the  in- 
termediate ground,  though  very  irregular,  prefents 
no  obftacles  which  art  and  induftry  may  not  fur- 
mount.  A  general  view  of  the  fubject,  is  all  that  I 
am  able  now  to  prefent ;  and  all  that  is  necerlary  to 
be  known,  in  this  ftage  of  the  bufinefs.  An  outline 
of  the  plan,  I  would  recommend  for  adoption,  as  beft 
adapted  to  the  varying  face  of  the  country,  will  be 
fufficient  to  enable  you  to  form  a  tolerable  correct 
idea  of  the  eligibility  of  the  meafure. 

The  beil  fituation  I  have  yet  feen  to  draw  the  wa- 
ter from  the  Bronx,  is  a  {hort  diftance  above  Mr. 
Lorillard's  SnufF  Mill ;  a  break  in  the  weftern  bank, 
enables  us  to  divert  the  dream  (by  means  of  a  dam 
thrown  acrofs  it)  without  any  difficulty.  The  water 
being  railed  fix  feet  above  its  natural  level,  will  flow 
over  a  fmall  fwamp,  from  wh^ch  originates  the  little 
rivulet  called  Mill  Brook  ;  following  die  direction  of 
this  dream,  a  canal  may  be  drawn  along  its  northern 
bank  ai  a  fmall  expence,  for  the  difrance  of  three 
miles  ;  when  the  ground  falling  off  rapidly,  renders 
it  neceflary  to  crofs  the  vaiey  in  which  Mill  Brook 
runs,  bv  means  cf  an  aquaditfl^  ro  the  oppofue  rifmg 
ground  ;  along  which  the  level  may  be  preferved,  to 
the  heights  above  Haerlem  river.  An  open  walled 
canal,  will  be  the  cheaper!  mode  of  conveying  the 
water  fo  tar  ;  a  little  lols  is  not  material,  as  a  fmall 
iucreafc  in  the  Jcction,  will  remedy  fuch  wafte. 


(  '3  ) 


A  declivity  of  6  inches  in  a  mile,  with  a  fe&ion 
of  1,152  and  linear  border  of  89  6-10  inches,  will  oc- 
cafion  a  velocity  in  the  current  iufficient  to  introduce 
into  the  fmall  refervoir  at  the  extremity  of  the  canal, 
6  cubic  feet  of  water  per  fecond  which  is  more  than 
the  quantity  requited,  fuppofmg  the  daily  fupply  to 
be  Xhtet  millions  of  gallons.  The  moft  difficult  and 
expenfive  part  of  the  route,  will  be  the  conveyance 
of  the  water  acrofs  Haerlem  river,  the  moft  eligi- 
ble mode  of  effecting  this,  appears  to  me,  to  be  by 
means  of  caff  iron  cylinders,  of  two  feet  diameter, 
with  a  difference  of  8  feet  between  the  extremities.' 
This  defcent  will  produce  a  velocity  of  11  3-  4  inches 
per  fecond,  yielding  in  that  time  5  95-ico  cubic  feet, 
while  the  required  quantity  is  only  5  65-100.  From, 
the  Cylinder  to  the  Refervoir,  it  is  a  matter  of  con- 
fequence  to  preCerve  as  much  of  the  water  as  poffible  : 
to  effect  this  object,  the  bottom  and  fides  mould  be 
rendered  impervious  to  that  element.  An  abfolute 
necelTity  to  preferve  a  regular  and  uniform  defcent, 
leaves  us  little  room,  in  the  choice  of  our  route  ; 
which  will  be  chiefly  along  the  more  of  the  North 
river.  The  quality  and  make  of  the  ground,  vary- 
much  :  the  greatell  impediments  are  occafioned  by 
the  numerous  ravines,  which  interfecT  the  line  of  the 
Canal — over  all  thefe,  aquaducls  muff  be  conftructed. 
The  level  may  thus  be  preferved  upwards  of  6  miles, 
or  within  2  miles  of  the  city  ;  there  it  defcends  fa 
much,  that  unlefs  higher  ground  can  be  found,  it 
will  again  be  neceffary  to  have  recourfe  to  iron  Cy- 
linders, to  convey  the  water  into  the  Grand  Refer- 
voir, which  may  either  be  placed  in  the  Park,  or  a 
vacant  piece  of  ground  to  the  Northward  of  the 
Hofpital,  either  of  which  are  fufficiently  elevated  to 
diftribute  the  water  through  all  parts  of  the  city. — 
The  total  diliance  from  the  Bronx  to  the  Park,  is 
14  miles  7  furlongs,  and  the  descent  twenty  three  feet. 
It  is  to  be  obferved  that  the  principal  object  of  this 
furvey,  being  to  afcertain  the  practicability  of  the 


(  14  ) 


plan,  and  neither  my  time  or  the  feafon,  permitting 
that  minute  investigation,  which  is  necelTary  to  ber 
made,  previous  to  the  commencement  of  any  ope- 
rations, there  is  a  probability  that  advantageous  de- ■ 
viations  may  be  made  from  the  route,  purfued. 

Although  the  form  and  dimensions  of  the  refer- 
voir,  are  objects;  of  importance,  it  is  now  prema- 
ture to  point  out  the  particular  mode  of:  conflruclion 
I  would  recommend  to  be  adopted  yet  it  may  not 
be  improper  to  give  a  general-  outline  thereof,  as 
perhaps  it  may  tend  to  remove  many  of  the  preju- 
dices which  have  been  entertained  againft  the  fup- 
pofed  impurity  of  the  waters  cf  the  Bronx.  It  is 
propofed  to  divide  the  Refervoir  into  three  parts, 
two  of  which  will  again  be  fubdivided ;  each  of 
thefe  minor  divifions  capable  of  containing  a  daily 
fupply  of  water.  The  firft  divifion,  or  refervoir  of 
Reception,  will  contain  the  water  as  immediately- 
delivered  by  the  Cylinder  of  difcharge  y  while  one-. 
of  its  subdivisions  is  jiilingy  the  other  in  a  quiescent 
flare,  will  be  depofiting  the  adventitious  matter,  with 
which  the  water  may  be  intermixed.  After  fo  re- 
maining 24  hours,  it  will  be  drawn  off  by  an  aperture 
near  the  bottom  (fo  as  to  prevent  any  buoyant  par- 
ticles from  entering)  into  the  Refervoir  of  Filtration^ 
-a here  it  will  frill  further  purify  itfelf,  by  gradually 
depofning  the  remaining  fediment,  until  it  is  finally* 
received  into  the  Refervoir  of  Distribution,,  after 
percolating  through  a  bank  of  warned  farad  and  gra- 
vel, (in  imitation  of  that  natural  procefs-  to  which 
all  water  owes  its  purification)— This  lalt  Refervoir 
it  is  propofed  to  Arch  over,  fo  as  to  preferve  the 
water  pure  and  cool ;  from  hence  it  will  be  diilribut- 
ed  in  feparate  and  diftinct  pipes,  through  every  part 
cf  the  city. 

The  water  deftined  tocleanfe  and  cool  the  flreets 
may  be  taken  immediately  from  the  Rxfervcir  of  re- 


(  i5  ) 


ception,  as  I  conceive  it  is  not  necefTary,  that  it 
fhould  be  very  pure. 

The  furplus  water,  which  for  a  conftderable  part 
of  the  year,  will  not  be  wanted  for  warning  the 
(beets,  may  be  applied  to  a  variety  of  purpofes,  but 
perhaps  to  none  more  ufeful  or  advantageous,  than 
the  fupplying  of  Dry  Docks ,  which  maybe  conftrudt- 
ed  to  receive  the  largeft  mips. 

If  the  water  in  the  Collect  is  deemed  adequate  to 
sdl  the  purpofes  of  domeilic  confumption,  it  muft  be 
raifed  by  means  of  a  Steam  Engine,  into  a  Refervoir  ; 
the  fituation  before  mentioned,  will  in  this  cafe  be 
very  convenient — Although  one  Engine  might  be 
conftrucled,  fo  as  toraife,  both  the  water  for  warn- 
ing the  city,  and  for  family  ufe  ;  yet  as  from  the 
quantity  necefiary  to  be  raifed,  it  would  be  unwield- 
dy  in  its  parts,  and  more  liable  to  accident,  and  aTfo 
as  two  thirds  of  its  powers  would  be  ufelefs  the  great- 
eft  part  of  the  year,  I  believe  it  will  be  mofl  advifea- 
ble  to  eredt  two — the  fir  ft  deftined  to  raife  the  water 
for  cleanfing  the  ftreets,  placed  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
to  the  northward  of  the  hofpital ;  which  would  be 
fupplied  with  water  from  a  refervoir  made  in  the  ad- 
jacent low  ground.  This  would  be  replenifhed 
twice  in  twenty-four  hours  by  the  tide,  by  means  of 
an  open  canal,  or  culvert,  communicating  with  the 
refervoir.  The  fmall  engine  might  be  placed  near  the 
other,  the  pump  well  being  fupplied  with  water  from 
the  colled,  conveyed  in  a  culvert  or  pipes.  The 
following  calculations  of  the  dimenfions  of  the  larg- 
eft engine,  will  be  found  fufficiently  correcl:,  to  ena- 
ble you  to  form  a  tolerable  idea  of  the  annual  ex- 
pence  attendant  on  it.  Admitting  the  quantity  (as 
before  calculated)  to  be  fufficierit,  we  find  that 
2, 200, coo  gallons,  or  359,640  cubic  feet  muft  be 
daily  raifed.  Suppofing  the  engine  to  work  16  hours 
cite  of  24,  we  have  22,477  *eet  t0       raifed  every 


(  »6  ) 

hour,  or  nearly  375  every  minute,  eftimating  ten 
ftrokes  to  be  made  in  a  minute,  each  ftroke  mull 
yield  371-2  feet ;  but  as  pumps  generally  fail  in  pro- 
ducing the  calculated  quantity,  fay  40  feet  per  ftroke  ; 
and  if  the  lengths  of  the  ftrckes  are  8  feet,  it  will  re- 
quire a  pump  of  30  27-100  inches  diameter;  but  a 
pump  of  that  dimenfion  would  not  anfwer  in  prac- 
tice ;  it  will  be  necefTary  therefore,  to  diminifh  the 
diameter  and  increafe  the  number  of  pumps ;  fix  of 
12  3-10  inches  will  be  equal  in  area  to  that  before- 
mentioned.  As  the  water  would  be  railed  about  50 
feet,  the  weight  of  the  column  would  be  1 56 1  3  ft, 
which  would  require  a  cylinder  of  44  2-10  inches  di- 
ameter fallowing  the  active  power  of  Mefil  Bclton 
and  Watts  engines  to  be  8  lb  on  every  circular  inch) 
fuch  an  engine  would  confume  about  330  lb  of  coal 
per  hour. 

Having  thus  given  you  every  information  necef- 
fary  to  be  known  for  your  guidance,  I  fhali  conclude 
by  remarking,  that  my  objections  to  the  Collect  (be- 
ing founded  on  the  doubts  I  entertain  or  its  efficien- 
cy to  fupply  the  annual  increafing  demand  of  this 
improving  city,  and  to  the  contamination  its  waters 
will  be  fubjecc.  to)  will  be  done  away  altogether,  when 
it  fhall  be  made  to  appear  that  they  are  groundlefs  ; 
in  fuch  a  cafe,  there  can  be  no  queftion  which  plan 
is  moft  eligible  as  it  refpecls  the  time  and  extence  of 
execution. 

I  am,  Sir, 

With  Refpea, 

Your  obedient  Servant, 
WILLIAM  WESTON. 

The  Hon.  RICHARD  VARICK. 

New-Tork,  March  14,  1799. 


Pnnted  by  order  of  the  Common  Council, 

Robert  Blinson,  Clerk. 


